Vehicle-wheel.



F. C. KUMMEROW.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 18. I9l6 Patented Nov. (i, 1917.

UNITE FERDINAND C. KUMMEROW, OF OHIGAGQ, ILLINOIS.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. a, roar.

Application filed September 18, 1918. Serial No. 120,835.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FERDINAND C. KUM- Minnow, citizen of the United States, re-

in vehicle wheels and has for its general object to provide a vehicle wheel in which the hub is capable of movement relatively to the felly in the plane or" the latter to an extent determined by the flexibility of the elements interposed between and engaged with the hub and felly respectively.

The particular objects of the invention are:

First: To provide a vehicle wheel in which the hub is suspended from the telly by a plurality of elements so arranged as to distribute the load over a large number of points in the telly, and over a large number of flexible suspension elements.

Second: To provide a vehicle-wheel in which'the greater number of the flexible elements suspending the hub from the telly or supporting the hub within the folly are simultaneously flexed in two directions under the influence of load and in which the remaining flexible elements are flexed in one direction, whereby the load is distributed simultaneously over all of'thesaid flexible elements.

Third: To provide a vehicle-wheel adapted to attain the foregoing objects which is further adapted to resist distortion by lateral strains imposed by so-called sideswiping of road obstructions such as carrails and the like, and such as result from travel on roads having lateral incline.

Fourth: To provide a vehicle wheel of the character set forth which may be easily and quickly repaired and which is noiseless in travel.

The invention consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating a suitable embodiment of the invention:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a vehicle wheel constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2' is a fragmentary detail section of same on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail section of same on the line -33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail section of the same on the line 4=4 of Fig. 2.

The said wheel comprises the folly 1 comprising a flat metalhoop which is provided at intervals with inwardly extending concavo-convex portions constituting U-shaped projections 2. Disposed centrally of the telly 1 is the hub 3, which is provided with a plurality of radial recesses in which the flexible spokes a are received and securely held against movement in any direction. Each of the spokes 4 consists preferably of a plurality of fiat springs 5 so that each spoke constitutes practically a radially disposed fiat spring, which preferably is tapered toward its outer end. The width of the spokes 4 is preferably slightly less than that of the telly 1, but suchwidth may be changed and varied at will without departing from the invention. The length of the spokes 1 is less than the least radial distance separating the hubfrom the folly. The number of said spokes is equal to the number of U-shaped projections 52 of the folly and said spokes are positioned relatively to the telly so that the outer end of each spoke opposes a U-shaped'projection 2, but is separated from the same by a free space.

,Each of the spokes i is provided in its outer end with two openings through which bolts 6 are adapted to pass. Each of the U-shaped projections is provided in respectively opposite diverging walls with one opening for the passage of the shank of a bolt 6. Each of the latter is provided with a head 7 presenting a spherical surface opposing the wall of the projection 2 through the opening in which the'shank thereof projects. The other end portion of each bolt 6 is threaded to receive a nut 8. Each of the nuts 8 is preferably provided with a projecting sleeve 9 having longitudinal slots 10 therein in which the ends of the locking pins 11 driven into an opening in the threaded end portion of the bolt 6 are adapted to pass. Each of the bolts 6 extends from one of the projections 2 to a or sub nticllv W pointslightly beyond the next adjacent pro jcction 2 and through one of the openings in a Each of the spokes 4 is thus secured to two of the ll-shaped projections 12 disposed at either side of and adjec'cnt to the projection 12 opposing the end of the spoke. I

The nuts 8 are adjusted so as to allow for longitudinal movement of the bolts 6 relatively to the spokes e and projections 2 with which they are engaged. Thusjthe pair of oppositely extending bolts 6 engaged with one of the spokes l ere laterally offset and separated from each other by a space, the width of which will be changed and varied according to the width oi. the spokes 4c. The openings in the latter are preferably of slightly greater diameter than the bolts 6 so that the latter have slight ploy therein.

hub 3 is adopted to receive plate 12 provided with a circumferential flange 13 whirl" is adapted to engage in notches or recesses in the inner end portions of the spokes t and in a circumferential groove in hub which intersects the recesses or pockets in which the inner end of the spokes are received. The plate i2 is adapted to be secured to the hub 3 by meensot the bolts and may be readily removed when de sired for purposes of removing and replacing' spokes or parts thereof as will be ob vious.

Referring now to Fig. 1 it will be apparent that when load is imposed. upon tie hub 3 the latter will tend to move down werdly against the supporting effect of the spokes i and bolts 6. T his will cause those spokes 4 which are horizontally or substantially horizontally disposed, to be flexed long'itndinally in the plane of the telly l. and by reason of the fact that each of said spokes is now suspended from the bolts 6 which are hung from the projection 2 a higher elevation then the said spokes, there will a tendency to longitudinally distort said spokes 4, the extent of said distortion var ing according to the position of the.

spoke. The downward movement of the hub will ObVlOllSl eilect similzi. movement of the vertically or substantially v .rtically dis sod spokes e. but, by reason or the sus' non oi said spitiscs from the laterally meted opp- .ely :5. .jE/"lilllf' bolts 5, any

a s will cause a vertical :neweinent ca id movement of the end portions the bolts '6 iged with said spo -d bol ts ere invertible a tension upon thi ime which of th tor end p rt disposed. i err flexible resistance so that the latter ad of the e to tie 'elatii'e movement l l Thus in a wheel conion lance with my invention the essence strain due to load on the hub is distributed over all oi the spokes simultaneously, with the result that some of said spokes ere subjected to a compound flexing longitudinally and torsionally and others tortionally only. In this way, however, I am enabled to construct the wheel of lighter materials and the life of the flexible portions is increased in accordance with the lessening of the strains thereon due to localization of load. Any snitable rim or tire may be mounted upon and suitably secured to the telly 1 as will be obvibus.

Vlhile I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention in the accompenying drawings, it will be obvious that the same may be embodied in other specific constructions than that shown, without, bowe -"er, departing from the invention as defined. in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. in a vehicle wheel, a hub, radially disposed flat flexible spokes rigidly secured at one end thereto, a telly normally concentric with said hub, there being free spaces be tween the outer ends of the spokes and the telly, and tension members connecting the outer end of each spoke and points in the folly arcuately removed from opposite sides of the spoke the points of connection of said to sion members with the'spoke being laterally spaced apart in the direction of the axis of the wheel.

In. a vehicle wheel, a hub, a telly, and flexible members interposed between said for permitting relative movement between the hub and the telly in the plane of the latter, means connecting said interposed members and said folly whereby a relative movement between the latter and said hub will flex the interposed members tortionally in the plane of said folly.

3. In a vehicle wheel, a hub provided. with radially projecting flexible spokes, a folly spaced from the outer ends of said spokes, and means connecting each of said spokes with said folly at two equidistant arcuately reino ed points laterally spaced apart in the direction of the axis of rotation of the wheel.

l. a vehicle wheel, a hub provided with radio 1y projecting flexible spokes, a folly spaced from the outer ends of said spokes, and tension members connecting each of said spokes with said folly at two equidistant areuately removed points laterally spaced apart in the direction of the axis of rotation mes es? g;

ally separated points for distorting sa'ni feily against the resistance oii'erefl by sei 10 spokes upon relative mevement between the spokes hub and feily i In testimony whereof I have signed my 6. A vehicle Wheel comprising a hub, a name in presence of two subscribing wit feily, interposed flexible spokes carried by nesses. the hub and means effecting enga ement be- FERDINAND (3.,KUWEROW.

tween tilfi spokes and said felly iior flexing Witnesses: said spokes in the lane of the felly and tor- M. M. BOYLE, tionally as said hu moves relatively to said I. CLUBPITZ 

